Roller-skate.



H. SIMON.

ROLLER SKATE.

APPLICATION FILED 00'!- 1 1909. 968,427. Patented Aug. 23,1910.

WITNESSES [mm a UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HENRY SIMON, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO EDWARD E. WRIGHT AND ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM JOYCE, BOTH 0F PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLER-SKATE. r

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SIMON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates to roller skates, and in such connection it has particular relation to a roller skate provided with automatic means for preventing the skater from falling.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and durable skate having improved means as aforesaid for automatically preventing the skater from falling.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a roller skate embodying the main features of my invention; Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the rear or heel portion of the skate; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the heel portion of the skate, showing the same in the tilted or angular position assumed when there is a tendency of the skaters heels to slip from under him, and in which position the improved means embodying the principal part of my present invention are called into play.

Referring to the drawings, 5 is the sole plate of the skate, and 6 is the heel plate thereof.

7 and 8 are the sole clamping members carried by the sole plate 5 and controlled by means of a right and left hand screw bolt 9 in a common and well known manner. Secured to the under side of the sole plate 5 is a roller supporting device 10, having downwardly projecting roller hangers 11 in which the forward roller 12 is mounted on its arbor 13. Carried by the heel plate 6 are the heel clamping members let and 15 which are controlled by a right and left hand screw bolt 16, and which co-act with the rear stationary clamp member 17 in the well known manner to secure the heel of the skaters shoe to the skate. Secured to the under side of the heel plate 6 is the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 1, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910. Serial No. 520,511.

rear roller supporting member 18. Extend- I mg respectively from the rear roller supporting device 18 and the forward roller supporting device 10 are the extensions 19 and 20 respectively provided with lugs 21 and 22, which arein threaded engagement with the right and left hand screw adjusting bolt 23. Suitably mounted in the forward part of the rear roller supporting device 18 on its arbor 24 is the main rear roller 25, while at the rear portion ofthe rear roller supporting device 18 is supported an auxiliary roller 26, the arbor 27 of which is mounted in slots 28 in the rear roller supporting device 18, which slots are preferably inclined forwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The arbor 27 of the auxiliary roller 26 is also engaged by eye pins 29, the free ends of which are loosely mounted in spring casings 30 containing springs 31, which press against the ends of the eye pins 29 and thereby maintain the arbor 27 of the auxiliary roller 26 in its extreme rearward position within the slot 28, whereby the auxiliary roller 26 is normally maintained with the lowermost portion of its periphery in alinement with the similar portions of the main heel and sole rollers 25 and 12 respectively. In the foregoing normal inoperative position of the auxiliary roller 26 the upper portion of its periphery is maintained at a slight distance away from the inner under surface 32 of the rear roller supporting device 18, and the arrangement of the inclined slots 28 is such that when pressure is brought to bear in the proper direction on the auxiliary roller 26, its arbor 27 will be shifted forward and upward within the inclined slots 28 against the tension of springs 31 to thereby permit the upper periphery of said roller 26 to frictionally engage the inner under surface 32 of the rear roller supporting device 18.

It should be noted that the rollers 12, 25, and 26 are all of the same size and interchangeable, so that the same may be readily replaced as they are worn out in use without requiring the dealer or user to obtain any special form of roller or other device when the same need be replaced. It should also be noted that the rear auxiliary roller 26 is normally maintained under tension of springs 31 with its axis in alinement with the axes of the two main rollers 12 and 25 respectively, so that when the same is called upon to perform its function of checking the motion of the skaters feet as his heels tend to slip from under him, its action will be gradual, and will take place without perceptible shock or jar, it being understood that the efiiciency of the frictional engagement of the auxiliary roller 26 with the inner under surface 32 will vary proportionally with the amount required, which action will be materially assisted by the slight curvature of the upper surface of the inclined slot 28, shown in Figs. 3 and f of the drawings.

While the skate shown in the drawings has but two main rollers it will of course be obvious that the invention is equally applicable to the other well known type of skate having four main rollers.

Having thus described the nature and characteristic features of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a roller skate, the combination with the main rollers, of an auxiliary roller mounted in slots in the frame work of the skate, said slots being inclined forwardly and upwardly and having a curved upper surface, and a friction surface in proximity to the upper portion of the periphery of said auxiliary roller.

2. In a roller skate, the combination with the main rollers, of an auxiliary roller mounted in slots in the frame work of the skate, a friction surface in proximity to the upper portion of the periphery of said auxiliary roller, spring casings mounted on the frame work of the skate, springs mounted in said casings, and eye pins engaging said springs and the arbor of said auxiliary roller to normally maintain said auxiliary roller out of engagement with said friction surface.

3. In a roller skate, the combination with the main rollers, of an auxiliary roller mounted in slots in the frame work of the skate, said slots being inclined forwardly and upwardly, a friction surface in proximity to the upper portion of the periphery of said auxiliary roller, spring casings mounted on the frame work of the skate having an inclination parallel to the general direction of the slots, springs mounted in said casings, and eye pins engaging said springs and the arbor of said auxiliary roller to normally maintain said auxiliary roller out of engagement with said friction surface.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

Tnos. J. GAVAGHAN, M. AGNES GAVAGHAN. 

